Introduction
The pro gaming mousepad scene is mostly focused on medium and control pads, with the occasional glass pad here and there. It’s rare for a (big) brand to release an outright speed pad, so when Pulsar (in collaboration with VAXEE) dropped one, our interest was obviously piqued. In our full Pulsar eS PD170 review, you’ll find out if this pad is worth your attention, or if you’re better off looking at other options.
The eS PD170 was made in collaboration with VAXEE. However, since it’s not listed on the VAXEE website and only gets sold by Pulsar, we consider this to be a Pulsar product.
At A Glance
Pulsar eS PD170
Used by 2 players ()
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BCJ
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Poppin
To me, the Pulsar eS PD170 feels like a glass pad that you can roll (slightly). It’s super fast, with an extremely smooth surface and a hard and dense base.
Pros
- Very smooth surface
- Very sticky base
- Foam is extremely consistent
- Very high speed (for a cloth pad)
Specs
| Height | 48cm |
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| Length | 40cm |
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| Thickness | 5.5mm |
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| Stitched edges | No |
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| Material | Cloth |
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| Static Friction | 38.3 |
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| Static Friction Angle | 6.1 |
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| Glide Difference X/Y | 5.3 |
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| Dynamic Friction | 1.2 |
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First Impressions
The PD mousepads are all really heavy and hefty, and this one is no exception. With a thickness of 5.5mm and a foam that’s super dense, this is a mousepad that feels like a weighted blanket.
It’s also a standout pad in terms of looks. The rolled edges catch the eye immediately, and the deep, navy blue color does the same. The pad is available in two different sizes (48cm x 40cm and 50cm x 50cm) but you can only get it in that one blue colorway. It’s worth noting that this color is a bit lighter in real life than it is in renders that you’ll find on the Pulsar website. That’s no problem to me (blue is my favorite color) but it can be good to know if you’re particular about the colors of your peripherals.
On the bottom right, you will find the VAXEE and Pulsar logos, indicating that this is a pad that’s born out of their collaboration. These logos are pretty much imbedded into the mousepad surface and don’t affect the glide in any meaningful way to me. They’re also small and out of the way, so the odds of running in to them while you’re doing super intricate aiming movements is rather low.
Finish and Overall Quality
The Pulsar eS PD170 is an extremely impressive mousepad. The logos are beautifully printed, the foam feels extremely consistent, the surface shows no errors, and the rolled edges feel great to the touch. To top it all off, the PD170 also lays flat pretty much immediately, even if you’ve rolled it up a bit in transport.
All in all, this is one of the most premium mousepads I’ve reviewed so far.
Performance
Glide
The PD170 is a pad with a maximum focus on speed. And it delivers in spades. It’s one of the faster cloth pads I’ve tried so far.
In terms of the static friction, it’s not as fast as something like a speed glass pad, but you definitely shouldn’t expect too much resistance when starting a glide. Think of a control-oriented glass pad if you’re looking for a comparison.
The dynamic friction tells the same story. Gliding is extremely smooth and fast, with just a tiny little bit of resistance that’s helping you stop.
In short: this is a super speedy, slick mousepad. Due to the very small amount of resistance, you’re not getting that full ‘Bambi on ice’ experience, though. So if you’re looking for a speed pad that doesn’t feel like there’s literally nothing holding you back, this is it.
But make no mistake: this is a speed pad. If you like control or a medium type of glide, you should stay far away from a pad like this.
Base and Softness
The PD170 is a whopping 5.5 millimeters thick. The foam, however, is extremely hard and dense. This gives it an almost glass pad feeling in practice. There’s no single spot where I can press the foam to any degree, so if you like mousepads that feel extremely consistent, then this one will be right up your alley.
The base is also extremely sticky. It’s so sticky that it feels like you’re peeling off a big, fat sticker if you’re trying to move the pad around. Luckily, Pulsar hasn’t used any actual glue, so there’s no residue that gets left behind when you move the PD170. The PD line (VAXEE also has some PD mousepads for sale) has the stickiest base I’ve seen on cloth pads so far, and I find it really impressive how they’ve managed to achieve this type of performance without going for adhesives.
Everyday Usage
Rolled edges are a bit of a rarity in the mousepad scene. I really like them, however. To me, they’re a great solution for thick pads like these. Stitched edges can get annoying to the touch on pads this substantial, and untreated edges are simply less durable, so I find this to be a great solution.
The PD170 is also very comfortable to use due to this design. I never felt any forearm annoyances during my testing.
Lastly, the extremely smooth surface also handles humidity really well, so in terms of day-to-day usability and comfort, this pad is a winner.
Alternatives
In terms of raw speed and gameplay experience, there aren’t that many cloth pads that come to mind when I’m thinking of alternatives. The Fnatic JET is probably the closest pad I’ve tried so far, but the surface feels a lot more ‘plasticky’ on that one. So while the gliding experience is similar, I personally would prefer the comfort and overall build quality of the Pulsar eS PD170.
Other pads that achieve a similar glide are all glass pads, which I personally would not consider to be a true alternative to the PD170, since we’re talking about a cloth pad here.
Conclusion
To me, the Pulsar eS PD170 feels like a glass pad that you can roll (slightly). It’s super fast, with an extremely smooth surface and a hard and dense base.
If you’re looking for a speed pad and you don’t want to go towards a glass pad, this is a fantastic option.
It’s not for me personally (I prefer control pads, so the PD170 is way too fast for me) but if I had to play on a speed pad, this would be my choice. It’s comfortable, consistent, well-made, and carries none of the negatives of glass pads.
An excellent effort by Pulsar and VAXEE.
This product was received for free from the manufacturer and given to our reviewer to test and review. Brands and manufacturers have no editorial control over our reviews. For more information, check out our review FAQ.
Former semi-pro gamer turned writer, product reviewer, and community manager.
